The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1887-04-20

render effective the navy which unde,
Republican rule fell into uselessness
and decay.-M Y. World.
~-UH
AN AMERICAN NAVY.
The Grand Advance Which Has Been
Made BY Democratic Administration
In Giving 1t to tho Country.
In the main, such provisions have
been made as to justify the declaration
that the country has at last a new
navy in progress, of which it may be
proud.
First of all come the new steel ves-
sells, the Dolphin, Boston. Atlanta and
Chicago, of which the first named is
complete, the two next substantially
finished, and the last capable of being
soon put to sea if needed. These were
the experimental vessels in the new
navy; but of the Chicago there is some
reason to hope much, while all four,
though of far too little speed, yet mark
an advance upon the former era.
Next come three additional cruisers,
which are expected to be among
the fastest of their class in the world,
the Baltimore, Charleston and Newark,
of which the two former are now UNI
der construction, and the latter soon
will be, since the Navy bill provides for
the needed increase of expenditure.
The advance in this second group of
cruisers, in the matter of speed, is
shown by the fact that while the Chi
cago, of 1850 tons displacement, is re-
quired to get 5000 horse power from
its 937 tons of machinery, the Newark,
of but 4,080 tons displacement, is re-
quired to get 5000 horse power from
only 800 tons of machinery. A COM
parison of the Charleston and Baltimore
with the Atlanta and Boston will show
a similar advance.
To these seven vessels must now be
added the two cruisers provided for
under the new Navy bill, which are to
make nineteen knots an hour and may
cost 81, 100000 each. Heavy premiums
and penalties for every quarter knot of
speed above or below this maximum
are to be put in the contracts. Be-
sides the new cruisers, we find four
fast gun-boats, two of these of 1900
tons and $40 tons displacement, re-
spectively, being already under con-
struction, and the remaining two,
which are of the larger type, provided
for in the new bill. There is also
under construction pneumatic dyna-
mite gun-boat, which is expected to
have speed of twenty knots, and
which will throw from its three tubes
projectiles containing each 200 pounds
of some powerful high explosive. Still
another addition authorized is a tor
pedo vessel. at a maximum cost Of
$1,000 which is not yet designed.
More important than any of the yes
sells yet named are the two armored
cruisers authorized at the first session
of the late Congress. They will be OF
about 5000 tons displacement, heavily
with powerful batteries, and
having a speed of atleast sixteen knots.
The sum allowed for these fine line-of-
battle ships is $4,000, 900 each, and the
chief delay in their construction is due
to the necessity of providing suitable
armor. The Navy bill makes the very
appropriation of $4,000, 900
exclusively for armor and gun steel for
these two vessels and for the double
turret monitors. These monitors, in
turn. five in number, the Purital, AM
phitrite, Monadnock. Terror and Man
;onomoh, must now at last be reckoned
IS part of the effective navy, since
while their size and other peculiarities
will make them of limited service they
will undoubtedly perform certain
junction in coast defense. Such armor
Is the Miantonomoh will carry no
loubt can easily be shot through by
modern guns of by no means the
argest caliber, but she may prove of
some service in harbor defense. For
The completion of these monitors, ex-
elusive of their batteries, the new act
appropriates $2,42O.O 600, and for guns
or these vessels and the others already
named it appropriates 81, 1913, 1862.
The record is not ended vet, since
The new act provides 81, 900, 600 toward
1oating batteries or rams for coast and
larbor defense, the final cost con-
being 81, 000, 600 exclusive Of
1t also makes $4,000
for purchasing and testing
naval torpedoes, and a further appro-
,riation of $25, 200 is granted for buy
ng the Stilleto for use as a torpedo
boat. The appropriations thus men
Toned are exclusive of those made to
he Naval Ordnance Bureau for its
ordinary work in the manufacture of
cannon, though in this latter the set
ing apart of $50, 400 for pu. chasing
hree steel-cast, rough-bored, six-inch,
ligh-power rife cannon, one of Bes-
emer, one of open-hearth and one Of
'rucible steel. is worthy Of special note.
As the matter sums up, then, we
ind here an entirely new navy, built
according to modern methods, either
n process of construction or author
zed, comprising one steel dispatch
'oat, eight cruisers, four gun-boats,
me dynamite gun-boat, two torpedo